LSP Farm Transition Workshop Series Launches Jan. 19 in Rochester

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ROCHESTER, Minn. — Are you a farmer or landowner thinking about the next steps for your farm and the legacy you would like to leave on the land? The Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Transition Planning Workshop Series provides an opportunity to reflect on the future as well as to do some active planning. The workshop will be held at Peace United Church of Christ Church (1503 2nd Ave. NE) on three Saturdays: January 19, Feb. 16 and March 16. The three full-day sessions build on one another, so attendance at all three ensures the greatest understanding and planning opportunities. The cost for the workshop series is $200 per family. For more information and to register, contact the Land Stewardship Project’s Karen Stettler at 507-523-3366 or stettler@landstewardshipproject.org.

“It is never too early to start thinking about your farm transition,” said Stettler, who works on farm transition issues for the Land Stewardship Project. “This workshop series will provide an opportunity to join with other farmers who are pondering their next transition steps and to develop goals while assessing future financial considerations.”

Presenters at the workshop will include other area farmers who are implementing a farm transition plan, as well as experts representing the legal, financial and healthcare fields as they relate to agricultural businesses. Workshop participants will have an opportunity to begin engaging in the planning process as well as learn about resources for continuing the process after the workshop has ended.

“The Farm transition course helped us to better define our values and set goals for the farm,” said Bill McMillin a Minnesota farmer who participated in a previous Farm Transition Planning Workshop. “Whenever a difficult decision or unforeseen issue arose, we went back to our values and goals to help us make our decision. It was also great to hear how other farmers were dealing with the transition process.”